BlackBerry readies iPhone challenge

If you’re my FB friend, or follow me on Twitter, you know I’ve been battling with my iPhone. I don’t hate it, per se, but we are certainly far from tech besties.

My large hands struggle when it comes to using the touch screen and the battery drains so quickly. I haven’t checked my voicemail in a week because 1. I can’t figure out how to retrieve my messages and 2. I also can’t figure out how to change the outgoing message so it doesn’t say, in an automated voice, “you have reached 518-…”

I’m also struggling with posting photos to Twitter and Facebook (a necessity for my job).

I do like the Internet, though, and the fact that I can actually approve — and respond to — OTE comments.

Still, I miss my BlackBerry. We had nearly five years together and our relationship was comfortable, and familiar.

According to this story it looks like I may be able to reunite with my favorite mobile device one day. That’s right. BlackBerry — the flailing smart phone — is going to launch a bevvy of devices that will compete with the iPhone.

24 Responses

Are you using the twitter for iPhone, facebook for iPhone apps? I don’t have an iPhone, but I’m told they should make uploading photos easier.

I can also recommend downloading the seesmic app. It allows you to manage facebook and twitter (multiple accounts if you need). You’d be able to upload the same photo to both twitter and facebook at the same time. It’s worked well for me on my android.

With a tweet just touch the camera icon when posting a status update and you can take a new pic or choose an existing one. And on FB just say you want to post a picture, and again it will ask if you want to take a pic or use an existing pic.

Make sure you’re using the apps.

Also, look into Google Voice for your voice mail. Easy to set up and it still uses your same phone number. Never have to call a number to check voice mail again, just read transcriptions or listen via the Voice app or via the website.

call your phone from a landline and hit * to get access into your voicemail settings.. also in safari on the iphone is a bookmark for the user guide, simple instructions.. posting photos to twitter and FB is simple if your using their apps… twitter has a little camera icon under the status box, and fb u just goto photos n select the album n then hit the camera icon as well..

Also, the “trick” to using the iPhone keyboard is to trust the auto-correct. Accidentally hit a D instead of the S? Don’t backspace, just keep typing. Once you hit the space bar it will change to the correct spelling.

If you go Google Voice you may as well send the iPhone back and get an Android phone! It can do anything an iPhone can do, in most cases better, and you can get a bigger screen that is easier to type on… HTC Thunderbolt is the best VZW phone right now, and Albany goes live with 4G LTE Aug 18th. you have 30 days to return the iPhone…

My daughter had a problem with the battery with her iPod touch and I brought it to the Apple store to check the battery. They showed me how to close all the applications since they actually still run in the background even when you leave that app. This will make the apps open a little slower since they are not held open in memory. It also works with the iPhone.

To see the running apps, click twice on the circle button at the bottom of the device. Once you see all the running apps, hold down one of the apps until it shakes and it will also add a red cicle with a minus sign on the corner. Touch each red circle to close the application.

RIM has not detailed when and for how much the new Torch will retail. The company did say the Torch 9850 will work on GSM carriers (e.g. AT&T) and the 9860 with CDMA networks (e.g. Sprint). Both models (identical except antenna chips) run on a 1.2GHz processor, with 768MB of RAM. The 3.7-inch display’s resolution is 480 by 800 pixels, which is still below the resolution and pixel density of Apple’s Retina display found on the iPhone 4.

The new BlackBerry Torch will also feature a 5-megapixel camera with flash and 720p HD video recording, which is the equivalent of what’s found on the year-old iPhone 4. However, unlike Apple’s smartphone the new RIM smartphone does not feature a front-facing camera for video calls. The front of the device is occupied by the 3.7-inch display, a speaker grille, and a light sensor at the top; an optical trackpad centered by four hardware buttons (pick up/hang up calls, menu and back) is present at the bottom. The “fall over,” the device’s edge design feature, is something RIM calls internally as “The Waterfall.”

Slenderness, battery life or on-board storage on the new Torch are nothing to write home about. The 9850/9860 is slightly thicker than the iPhone 4 (11.5mm compared to 9.3mm on the iPhone), claimed battery life from the 1230mAh removable battery is a few hours below the iPhone’s, and the Torch just comes with a 4GB built-in storage (expandable to 32GB via microSD).
The upcoming BlackBerry Torch 9850/9860 sounds like an improvement from previous RIM devices, but the phone is a mere catch-up to the iPhone and high-end Android phones from last season. While its features may look good on paper now, by the time RIM’s new Torch is actually launched (remember, no price or launch date announced), the phone might look outdated compared to expected Android and Apple advancements this fall.

@6: There’s no reason to get an Android phone just because you use Google Voice for voice mail. The Google Voice app for the iPhone (or just the website) is fine for listening to messages and reading transcriptions (or just have transcriptions emailed and you never have to open the app)

I hope BlackBerry gets it together soon. I am currently carrying both a HTC Incredible and a BlackBerry Bold for work. The Droid phone is fun; the touch screen is great but the BB emails/calendar and texts so much better.
A touch screen BB with an adequate browser, good camera and strong battery life would be my ideal. Would love to carry only one phone!

@11 regarding GVoice: “Very clumsy to use and those calling the # will soon figure out that it is just a mailbox drop.”

It’s not a mailbox drop, it’s your current phone number, and when you don’t answer, it goes to Google Voice’s voicemail instead of Verizon’s.

Yes, Google Voice does so much more (one phone number for all your phones), but you can also just use it for voice mail. I haven’t actually listened to a voice mail in years, I just read transcriptions emailed to me.

Kristi, I do not have an iPhone, mainly because of the costs of the phone and insane contract prices that they take, but I do have an EVO. Please understand that the Blackberry will be a thing of the past in just a few months. Realize that smartphones are just that. SMART. They take up a lot of battery life running processes and apps. Some ways to keep your battery life fresh – turn off screen when possible, turn down screen contrast. Don’t run wifi/4g when you don’t need it, turn of Bluetooth and GPS if you don’t need it, and completely close all applications you are NOT using at that moment.

To be honest with you, ditch the iPhone and get an android (I would suggest the evo or evo3d even though it seems useless and too large). Android/htc phones seem much more pliable and able to change things around. I’m not sure if Blackberry can keep up with competition with the iPhone, to be honest, I think they’ll try and not come up with a good enough solution. In reality, droid phones OUTSELL iPhones and there’s a reason for that. Don’t get me wrong, I love my apple products, but I’m much happier with my EVO.

As for your picture/video upload problem. Make sure you’re getting apps. Instagram for sharing photos, facebook app, twitter app, picplz. I know android phones have a “video to facebook” option. I don’t use an iPhone so I couldn’t tell you, but perhaps it compares to the process that is on my phone – take picture, press and hold picture, select share, select how you want to share it.

You say you love the internet, and if you are a social media “guru” you should have no problem simply googling easy tutorials for this. To be frank with you, you could probably find out your answer in about 10 seconds if you did that. Apple also has forums where you can find out answers from other users.

I had a Blackberry for several years (most recently the Tour) and then switched to the iPhone. I do agree that the keyboard is hard to get used to but everything else is easy once you figure out how to do it. There’s a learning curve just like with anything. My boyfriend has a Droid and not only is the touch screen very insensitive but I don’t think it’s any user-friendlier than the iPhone. I’m sure if I used it everyday it’d become second nature too.

I love my iPhone. It just takes some getting used to, Kristi – stick with it! I agree with the suggestions about going to the Apple store and just chatting with them. You’ll be surprised; your phone can do a lot more than you think it can!

I honestly don’t understand why anyone would buy anything but an Android. It comes in a million shapes and size to fit personal taste (keyboard, touch screen, both), does everything an iPhone does (and more), and can be personalized to look how you want. I love my Droid Incredible and have never looked back.

Kristi-make sure to close all the apps that run in the background that will save your battery life, also the VM is so easy you can even delete message without having to listen to them first. I personally have AT&T and on their website are tons of tutorials for the iphone I would try and see if verizon has that, or ask a current user. I would never go back to blackberry after having an iphone.